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Following the successful completion of planned improvement works between Stratford and London Liverpool Street during the Christmas and New Year period, Network Rail’s £200m overhead line upgrade is to enter its next phase.

From 9 January to 21 March, Network Rail engineers will be carrying out improvement works on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights between Shenfield and Witham.

During this period, after 10.30pm each night, trains from Liverpool Street will run as far as Billericay, where a bus connection will continue to Witham for connecting onward trains. Buses will also run from Shenfield to Witham.

The work is part of Network Rail's major project to replace 60-year-old overhead line equipment on the Great Eastern main line, which will increase reliability and limit disruption.

Dave Ward, Network Rail route managing director, said: "The completion of work between Liverpool Street and Stratford marks a major milestone in this project. The work we are doing is a once-in-a generation opportunity to enable us to run a more reliable railway and deliver a better service for passengers.

"This line is one of the busiest rail routes in the country and we need carry out crucial works to maintain and renew the railway. There is never an ideal time to carry out this scale of work and we thank passengers in advance for their patience. We do apologise for any disruption this may cause, but people will understand that the work is absolutely necessary."

The planned changes to the timetable have been available since 13 November 2011 and were published by National Express East Anglia in their December 2011 timetable. Network Rail is taking this opportunity to remind passengers of the changes.

Network Rail has 22 scheduled engineering-free weekends through the summer, including the 11-week period between late June and early September when all disruptive engineering work on key rail lines around the country will be suspended for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Upgrade work on the overhead lines between Shenfield and Witham will then resume on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights betweem 17 September to 24 October.

Passengers should visit www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com or www.nationalrailenquiries.co.uk for more information.